Whitefish

[PNWWARRIOR94]

Not asking for secrets just advise what is a good way to catch white fish from the Yakima river? Looking forward to catching some this year!

[DOUBLELUNG]

They take flies pretty readily, if you don't flyfish a casting bubble with a weighted nymph works with spinning gear, or rigs like these https://fishwithjd.com/2010/10/04/sinkers-for-drift-fishing-the-basics/

[jagermiester]

I used to catch them on nymphs in MT.
Especially in the winter months. No fight but they were good on the smoker.

[Fletch]

I used to use what I call red or florescent pink whitefish flies... don't know the true name... and take a straight piece of wire coat hanger 6-8 inches long.  Fold a small loop in the wire and put it at the bottom (cheap slinky weights) two flies spaced out up the line.  Maggots on the flies.  I have used this in the Yakima and the Wenatchee with success.  But some of the regs have changed since I used to fish those waters and maggots may not be allowed.

[AL WORRELLS KID]

Freezing Winter Weather, Blue Skies, A Clear Cold Mountain Stream, Fishing a Deep Hole, Size #14 Fly Tipped with a Fresh Maggot on a 6 LB Test Fluorocarbon Leader =  a Limit of 15 Mountain Whitefish. "Hang Them High and Smoke Um Up" !
Doug

[fishingnut71]

Don't smoke whole, will be to mushy. Half them and brine for 6 hrs in favorite brine, rinse, smoke. Alder is awesome. Skin side up.

[Night goat]

Where can i find these fish?

Skykomish, Foss, Tye rivers??? My ski shack is on the Foss...

Samish Skagit Sauk Cascade Nooksack???

[jagermiester]

Don't know about those rivers but they are in the Yakima.
And if you want to target them for real go to Southwest Montana.
A person could for real fill a freezer there.

[Skyvalhunter]

The population of whitefish on the South Fork of the Skykomish, Tye, Beckler is very poop. The floods of these rivers really had an effect on them. Was a time when the population was decent. The people I know that used to fish it now fish Duvall area. Some whitefish travel like salmon or steelhead to spawn. If you look at the fish count for Whitefish at Sunset falls you will see its pretty dismal. You should have fished the Tye river in the good old Days